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Leicester City midfielder Andy King is on the brink of joining Steven Gerrard’s Rangers, but it’s not going down well with the fans.

The 50-cap Wales international is on the verge of becoming Gerrard’s tenth signing of the summer, as the Gers boss gets stuck into his second season in management.

King has been at Leicester his entire career, playing an impressive 375 times for the club, with 29 of those appearances coming as part of the side that won the Premier League in the 2015/16 season.

The greatest player ever to grace the Scottish Premiership is revealed in the video below…

The potential loan deal for the 30-year-old hasn’t been met particularly warmly by many of the supporters however.

The Light Blues have already brought in Joe Aribo, as well as welcoming Greg Docherty back from an impressive loan at Shrewsbury, and many fans aren’t sure that they really need another central midfielder this summer.

Another concern raised by the fans is his lack of games played in the past 24 months. The Welshman has featured just 31 times in the last two seasons and the fans aren’t happy signing an injury risk like King.

Here’s what the supporters had to say on Twitter about the potential deal…

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Leeds United returned to the top of the Championship table with a 1-0 win over Brentford at Elland Road on Wednesday night.

On-loan Arsenal attacker Eddie Nketiah came off the bench to score the winner for the Whites, who have now collected 10 points from their four league games this term.

It was a positive night for Marcelo Bielsa’s side considering two of their summer signings combined to match-winning effect, a moment that apparently sent Victor Orta into delirium according to Yorkshire Evening Post’s chief football writer, Graham Smyth.

The Leeds fans were obviously delighted with the final result, but it would be fair to say that a number were disappointed with what they saw from Ezgjan Alioski.

A bit of a reshuffle due to injuries saw Alioski come into the team on the left.

However, according to WhoScored, the 27-year-old only made one challenge and did not complete a single dribble as he struggled going forward.

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And many of the Leeds supporters have criticised his performance:

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking on talkSPORT, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has insisted Manchester United’s “fear factor” at home has disappeared.

What did he say?

United suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday, meaning they have picked up four points from their opening three Premier League games of the season.

Now, Jordan has insisted the ‘Old Trafford fear factor’ has gone, and revealed he didn’t think Solskjaer could truly lead the Red Devils back to their former glories.

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He said: “Looking at that performance; there is no fear factor, nobody cares about Old Trafford because that image is gone. And I don’t think it is going to come back under the stewardship of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer because part of that image, as we know, was best players winning games.

“But also, was this figure at the very head of Manchester United as a football operation which was (Sir Alex) Ferguson. Are you seriously saying to me that the serious times of Man United, with Liverpool and Man City disappearing into the horizon, that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going to operate at the level that is required? I don’t think so!”

Fear factor is long gone

The ‘Old Trafford fear factor’ arguably died the moment Sir Alex Ferguson stepped away from the club. United have simply not been the same since the departure of their iconic boss, and the sheer aura that helped create that presence is sorely missed.

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Solskjaer cannot be held accountable for opposition teams finally having the courage to take the game to United. Ferguson left six years ago, and since then, the Red Devils’ dominance has slowly but surely eroded.

The United boss has not been in the job for a full year yet, but there have been glimpses of the kind of team he is looking to build. The performance against Chelsea, and the victories over Tottenham and Arsenal last season, showed the Norwegian there is certainly something to work with.

But make no mistake, this remains a rebuilding job that could take another couple of years. The so-called ‘fear factor’ will simply have to be created from scratch again.

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Loads of Newcastle United supporters have been reacting on social media after the Chronicle shared that the Magpies have achieved an ‘unprecedented’ attendance stat already this season.

The North East outfit have played two Premier League fixtures at home already this term, with Arsenal travelling to St. James’ Park to lift the curtain on a new campaign before Watford made the trek last time out.

From those two league encounters, Newcastle have claimed the seventh-highest total gate figures in England – which ranks the Toon within the top 30 across Europe – however, the numbers through the turnstiles against the Hornets was the lowest United have achieved since 2012.

Newcastle have also had the highest proportion of empty seats of any top-flight English side from their opening two Premier League fixtures at home this season, which has been impacted by Rafael Benitez’s departure, as suggested by the Chronicle.

There have been reports of as many as 12,000 season tickets being left unsold heading into the 2019/20 term (The Sun), which sparked the North East outfit to list them on general sale as the figure left unsold was 6,500 more than at that time last year.

Newcastle’s efforts to increase attendance numbers does not appear to have been successful, though, as the Toon were at 87.7% capacity against Watford on Saturday, which saw the Magpies become the first Premier League side to boast figures below 90% capacity this season – the last instance of United boasting such low numbers came in 2009/10, when the club were promoted from the Championship under Chris Hughton.

Here are some of the reactions shared by United fans to their side’s league-low attendance record so far this season…

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Crystal Palace welcome Aston Villa to Selhurst Park this Saturday, where the Villans will be playing their first Premier League game in this corner of south London since 2015.

In that fixture, a late Bakary Sako goal on the Malian’s debut helped the Eagles grab all three points, but the Villans are a much-changed outfit nowadays.

A busy summer has revamped Dean Smith’s side, and the likes of Wesley, Douglas Luiz and Bjorn Engels will undoubtedly provide a tough test for Roy Hodgson’s side who came plunging back down to earth following a 2-1 win at Old Trafford with a Carabao Cup loss to League Two Colchester.

Let’s take a look at what XI we think the former England boss will put out against the Villans…

Palace’s fairly thin squad could be pushed to its limits against Villa.

Joel Ward, Patrick van Aanholt and Jeffrey Schlupp all missed the midweek loss to League Two Colchester through injury, which leaves Hodgson in a bit of a predicament as the trio are practically all of his recognised senior full-back options.

Against Colchester, 20-year-old academy prospect Sam Woods – a natural centre-back – had to deputise for Ward at right-back, whilst centre-midfielder Jairo Riedewald, who hadn’t played since the FA Cup win over Grimsby back in January, was forced to start at left-back.

If none of the established full-back trio regain fitness, it may have to be the inexperienced duo in the full-back positions once again against Villa.

Martin Kelly was substituted against Colchester but Hodgson said the move was intended to ensure his availability for the game against Villa, so we think he will continue alongside Gary Cahill, while the midfield trio who started the win against Manchester United should remain at the core of the XI.

In attack, Andros Townsend was dropped for that win and also missed the decisive spot kick against Colchester, so we can see him missing out again with the impressive Jordan Ayew favoured in attack alongside Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke, who was a threat in midweek and almost scored via the crossbar.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Former Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has said the Arsenal team “lacked consistency” towards the end of Arsene Wenger’s time at the club, and that the Frenchman was the manager who most “trusted” his players, in his upcoming autobiography, via The Mirror.

What did he say?

The former Germany international joined the Gunners in 2011 and made 221 appearances during his time at the Emirates Stadium.

He retired from football at the end of the 2017/18 season, and his upcoming autobiography, entitled “Per Mertesacker: Big Friendly German”, will be released on 28th September.

In the book, he writes about his time in north London and has spoken about the difficulties encountered towards the end of Wenger’s reign.

The former Werder Bremen defender said: “When we lost one game, we often lost a few in a row. We could show off our class across six FA Cup games, but 38 League matches in 10 months were a different matter. We simply lacked the consistency all top teams need.

“He (Wenger) didn’t lose his nerve during losing streaks, either. He stuck with his convictions and his players, no matter how strong the wind was blowing. It was his greatest strength.

“Wondering whether it was also his greatest weakness and whether he was too lenient with us is, in my opinion, a little too simplistic.

“But Wenger trusted the players he had. I never met another manager who believed more strongly in his squad’s ability.”

How do football vloggers afford to watch their team week in, week out? Find out in the video below…

Wenger’s lack of ruthlessness cost Arsenal

It is certainly interesting to see Mertesacker be critical of the playing staff, and it shows his respect for his former boss that he is willing to shoulder the blame. Certainly, having patience and belief in your players is a trait that a top manager often requires.

However, they also need ruthlessness and conviction and, in the more barren spells of Wenger’s Arsenal career, that was something he often lacked. Players such as Marouane Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner, for example, were at the club longer than they should have been.

The greatest managers in history have displayed that win-at-all-costs attitude. Sir Alex Ferguson, for example, moved star players such as Ruud Van Nistelrooy and David Beckham on as soon as he felt they could no longer offer him what he wanted. Even without those names, his Manchester United side continued to be successful.

In the end, Wenger’s lack of ruthlessness cost Arsenal, and saw them lose ground on the best clubs not only in the country but in Europe as a whole. In his last two seasons as manager, he failed to qualify for the Champions League. Had he left the club earlier, perhaps the Gunners could have risen from their slump.

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According to Football Insider, former Scotland international Alan Hutton has revealed he could have re-signed for former club Rangers a few years ago.

What’s the story?

Hutton, now 34, is currently without a club having been released by Aston Villa upon their promotion to the Premier League. After turning down several English sides, the marauding full-back is now contemplating retirement, stating that he’d find it difficult to join a Scottish club other than Rangers.

He told Football Insider: “Not so much but I find it tough to go back to Scotland. Rangers is my team, I came through at Rangers and I just think to go anywhere else would be really difficult for me and I don’t think I would want to.

“Maybe a few years ago there was a chance at Rangers but again it’s probably a position that they’re not in a hurry to fill.”

Of course, Hutton’s regular right-back berth is currently occupied by captain James Tavernier, who ended last season with 17 goals and 20 assists across all competitions. But when asked whether he could rival Tavernier for a place in the side, Hutton cheekily replied: “I don’t see why not, I don’t see why not.”

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Would a nostalgic return have been worthwhile?

The Alan Hutton of 2007/8 was the very definition of the modern full-back – aggressive, powerful and forward-thinking. His performances earned him a £9m move to Tottenham Hotspur and the Premier League where he would go on to make over 150 appearances with Spurs and Villa.

However, Hutton never quite hit the heights expected in English football. He never made more than 14 appearances in a single Premier League season for Tottenham and registered just seven assists in total from his top flight spells with the Lilywhites and Villa.

While the former Scotland man wasn’t too specific about when he could’ve returned to Ibrox, there’s also the small matter of the aforementioned Tavernier. He joined Rangers four years ago and has flourished in Glasgow, earning the captain’s armband while contributing to more than one Rangers goal every two games.

For all the nostalgia of having Hutton back at Ibrox, that scenario could well have prevented Tavernier from becoming the crucial creative force he is today, while Rangers could currently be stuck with a 34-year-old full-back rather than a 27-year-old about to enter his prime years.

Maybe it’s for the best then that Hutton’s homecoming never came off.

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Lots of Arsenal fans have taken to Twitter to complain about Unai Emery’s decision to leave Lucas Torreira on the bench for the Premier League win against Aston Villa.

The Gunners went behind after John McGinn opened the scoring – his second league goal in north London this term after netting against Tottenham too – but managed to overturn the deficit as it finished 3-2 thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s late winner.

Emery decided to go with Matteo Guendouzi and Granit Xhaka in the midfield, leaving Torreira on the bench – a decision that didn’t go down well at all with the Arsenal fans on Twitter.

With both men starting in defensive midfield positions, neither really imposed themselves on proceedings.

Guendouzi failed to register a single tackle, clearance or block, whereas Xhaka failed to make an interception or a block and completed just one tackle.

One fan said that Emery has been “clueless again”, while another said that the Spaniard deserves to be sacked for his decisions.

Let’s take a look at some more of the Twitter reaction…

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Competition for places at Selhurst Park, in some areas, is pretty rife right now.

You’ve got the likes of Max Meyer and Victor Camarasa missing out in midfield, Martin Kelly sitting out recently despite a decent start to the season, as well as both Christian Benteke and Andros Townsend being left out of the XI in recent weeks.

While Roy Hodgson has changed his XI on a few occasions already this term, dropping Benteke and Townsend as well as Meyer, there are three players who simply have to be the first names on the teamsheet right now…

Cheikhou Kouyate 

The Senegal international has starred for the south Londoners this term since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, starting the last four games having sat out the first two.

What Kouyate brings to the side is an energy that is unmatched by any other midfielder at the club, as while James McArthur may have a similar work rate, the former West Ham man’s leggy strides and aerial presence makes him a vital cog in the middle of the park.

Gary Cahill 

A low-key free transfer back in the summer, Cahill has shone during James Tomkins’ absence through injury, so much so that we think the 30-year-old may not get back into the team.

The England international – who has recorded a huge 6.3 clearances per game in the Premier League this term – is an experienced, calming presence at the back.

Given his experience and current form, he simply cannot be dropped and has to be one of the first on the teamsheet.

Jordan Ayew

As The Athletic detail well in this article, Palace have had trouble converting chances into goals this season.

Benteke is a golden example of that, missing a simple one on one against Wolves last time out – the Selhurst Park faithful just want someone who can finish.

In Jordan Ayew, the Eagles seem to now have that man to an extent. The Ghanaian has already doubled his tally from last season with two goals coming against Manchester United and Aston Villa, whereas his work rate has been impressive.

He must start week in, week out.

[ad_pod ]You may or may not have caught the news the other day that former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger allegedly said it would be a dream to manage Manchester United.“Manchester United? To coach Man United would be a dream for anyone. If you have belief in yourself, then coaching a club like Manchester United should be one of your goals.”I think that United have a pretty good team, but I think that they would need at least 4 new signings if they want to compete for trophies. Even so, I don’t think they need all that much to become competitive again.”They need guidance if they are to take that next step. I have a lot of faith in myself and I think that I would have to right ideas for them. Let’s see what happens in the coming months.”Unfortunately, if you were one of those who got tremendously excited at the prospect of seeing the Frenchman back in the dugout, this particular nugget of tremendously misleading information was, in the not-so-wise words of Donald Trump, ‘fake news’.Those darn bogus quotes have done it again.Indeed, in the interest of maintaining his health and protecting his already slightly damaged legacy, the 69-year-old has absolutely no intention of coming back to the Premier League to take on one of the most difficult jobs in football.And can you blame him? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer already looks like he’s aged 20 years since accepting the permanent job. Poor Arsene is much better off protecting what’s left of his Arsenal legacy, and Unai Emery may just be giving him a helping hand in that regard based on recent results.Here’s what the Frenchman really said…